The two waited...
.
.
.
.
"Huh...should we go down?" Maria turned towards the barely visibly outlined figure of Ais.
The personal guard thought for a moment.
"Mana Blades." Her monotonous voice rang.
Maria nodded and waved her hand.
Two low coves of light spawned into the air directly before them. And with that,
Two mana blades aligned in parallel.
Maria nodded contently, a slight smile on her face. With each passing moment, her handle over her skills grew. She had long learned there was not a direct need to summon her radiant weapon in order to summon her mana blades, after all, that sword of her's was already linked and bonded with her soul tightly. As if an extension of herself, she could use its might even as it rests.
"Let's go."
The two stepped upon their rightful 'platforms'.
A low glow of golden began to lower into the abyss.
"Hmm," Maria realized a fact.
Her mana blades seemed to pierce through the darkness a bit. It wasn't to the extent of being able to see all that was around, but it was definitely quite noteworthy. However, there was something even more interesting...
"Heat." The voice of her personal guard rang.
"Mhmm." She nodded.
Although it was useless to her, she could still feel the slightest low cove of heat radiating from those two gleaming blades below their feet.
The deeper they descended, the more the worry within Maria's heart rose.
Until finally, with the golden light of the weapon guiding them, they descended upon the visage of a boy frantically digging himself out of the depths of white snow. His body shivering to stand as the sleeping girl simply floated along beside him.
The two hurriedly descended down.
Crunch
Seeing the shivering figure of Alex, Maria spawned the remainder of her blades as a gentle cove of golden light finally filled the area.
Two golden blades silently hovering around the boy, giving slight warmth amidst the cold.
"There, this should keep you warm," Maria spoke.
She saw the lips of the boy move yet heard no sound.
"Huh?"
"Wait..."
Her voice contained only the faintest sound she could hear. If she could barely hear her own voice, the other companions around her definitely couldn't hear a word she spoke!
The group realized.
"..." Maria
"..." Ais
"..." Alex
Sounds were extremely lowered to the bare minimal within this strange place they had found themselves. Only by focusing to their upper limits were they able to pick up even the faintest of noise. Though, that was just the bare minimum of crunching footsteps against the snowy lands.
"Wait..."
Crunchy footsteps while none of the team was currently in a movement?
Ais's silver blade left it's sheath as she activated her 'Circular View' skill.
Instantly, although still abyssal dark, she could see a wider range of the land.
Her eyes narrowed into glares.
Chlink
There was the faintest sound of the drawing of a weapon.
Ais's golden irises jumped about along with matching any small changes with the circular view within her mind. Her brain working in overdrive as her senses stretched to the upper limit she could take them.
'I can't smell anything...' She realized another fact as well.
'What is this domain?'
A quick glean of silver.
But not quick enough to escape her detection.
Ais swung her blade.
A single spark of collision drifted amidst the low dark as the sound of scraping iron rang.
Clunk
A mana blade shot through the dark and accurately impaled into the shadowed figure.
'Clunk?'
And with this, the group held a chance to see exactly what that figure was.
A visage of a crystalized icy human. It looked exactly like a human except without a single detail upon its face and only holding a single dark azure demonic core within.
It turned to move...
Clunk
Another blade impaled into its head, directly crushing the demonic core.
A click rang before the crystallized being began to crumble down.
However...
Maria frowned, something, just something continuously rang into her ears and quickened the beating of her heart. Everything felt wrong, nothing felt quite right.
What was this domain they were in?
[Use Mana Sensing now! As far as you can spread it forwards!] Mar's urgent voice suddenly boomed.
Maria's mana fanned into existence as it raced forwards.
Her mind focused amongst the scenery as it opened up before her...
Pure white snow...Rocky Lands...Tints of a reddish Canyon...and finally...
The ground trembled.
The low sound of crunches was heard.
"...my god..." Her eyes instinctively widened.
It was an army.
An endless army of crystallized figures each matching towards them as if they could sense life...definitely in a bid to rip that very thing away from them. Except for the clanking of their bodies...they made no other sound.
"We have to move." No matter how Maria was proud of her fighting abilities...she didn't yet think she could take on an army of unknown beings.
However, how exactly would she tell the others to move the heck away?
Yet...
Ais and Alex's facial expression changed much the same as a bad premonition dreaded over them.
They too heard it, even faintly, the massiveness of shifting feet.
Maria frowned as she sent a golden blade spiraling into the air. However...
Bang, Clank
Just as she had thought, it fell right back down after reaching a meter or so above her.
'A restrictive barrier eh? Allowed in but not allowed out...' She grimaced lightly.
"Well..."
A cove of light boomed into existence as her radiant sword appeared at hand. Maria swung it once, creating a mystifying arc of gold that danced amidst the low darkness, and pointed its tip before the army.
Ten golden swords floated circularly around the blade of the Radiant sword in a rhythmic hum.
"Behind us, a wall!! Above us, a barrier!! Around us, the cold!! Before us, an army!!"
"And thus..."
Her pinkish eyes glinted for battle as a hollow smile placed onto her lips.
"Our only option is to cut through the army!!"
Although they didn't quite hear what she said, it seemed her notion was transferred as Ais grasped her weapon and Alex summoned
The darkened area seemed to brighten a bit in preparation for battle, soon, the figures of hazy blue could be seen even amidst the dark--as if a beacon to be slain.
Although it looked endless, none of the three could seldom believe that army was as endless as it seemed.
Maria's golden blades melded into her Radiant sword, giving it a low shine of a shimmer.
All three figures kicked off at once.
Ais was more akin to a deadly assassin.
Blitzing through the midst of what seemed like an endless mob, her blade swung madly as each of her strike directly sliced the core of a beast apart and her feet churned against the snow beneath and rang keenly in her ears.
Her
'Although seemingly endless...they are relatively at the D+ to C rank.' She came towards that deduction.
Scrill
Her blade sliced upon the blade of her foe as it traced upwards, guiding it away from her abdomen in which it would have hurriedly pierced through into mice meat otherwise.
Schin
Vertically, she sliced its demonic core and instantly jumped away to dodge leftward. Narrowly escaping an attack.
Her right leg struck out once, pounding against the chest of another before piercing her blade through its head.
Within a battlefield, melee surprise attacks were practically useless against her.
Ais's golden irises glimmered.
Crash
A wave of azure energy tore through and galloped a hole within the midpoint of the crystal army as Alex crashed down, swinging
A mass of the beasts were instantly cut down into useless vessels.
His left hand flashed, a glimmeringly raging sword of flames appeared at hand as he slammed it down.
"Boya!!"
BoOm
A pillar of flames dug from the ground as it shot a wave of snow into the air and directly crushed forwards the beasts before it. Creating nothing more than broken puppets.
'Next...there.' He already made his next decision with each swing of his blade.
Flashes of light and explosions strived in echos as Alex's hands continuously flashed to switch weapons.
He seemed to jump amidst the battlefield, strategically lessening the number of beasts that rushed their location with each wave of his hands.
His eyes continuously shook as he sped through the crystallized beings.
'Left side,'
An azure blue energy directly blasted fourths and sliced apart the heads of the mass of beasts leftward.
'Mhmm,' He nodded, 'I'll leave those to her.'
He jumped forwards, somersaulting and landing soundlessly against the snowy lands.
'It's so fu*king cold though.' He couldn't help but curse and wondered how Pomme still managed to sleep soundlessly while floatingly following his actions about.
Strangest of all, she wasn't so much as even thought of as an attack target, all beasts within the area only rushed to slash towards him, directly ignoring her presence. It was as if they didn't even see Pomme as a threat, not bothering to even so much as attack her. As if she had become invisible to all senses entirely.
'Oh well,' He shrugged.
'Means I can do two peoples work? Welp, double Ws it is then.' He chuckled at his own joke...which...wasn't funny, to say the least...it was probably an inside joke of sorts.
His hands grasped his blades tighter.
'I should lessen that area next.'
A spark of white lightning boomed as he slashed.
Boom
'It seems each 'special use' of the swords has an attached cooldown limit...switching weapons within that small time frame...genius. Is that for every weapon he summons, however?' Maria couldn't help but praise lightly.
'Hmm...' A thought occurred to her.
'Say, Mar, what do you think of those two's styles compared to mine?' Maria suddenly questioned as her blade pierced through a head.
Her figure jumped into the air before a rain of her golden blades fell down, directly slicing through--although accurate as can be---only 7 beasts.
Even now, as she landed back down silently and leaped forwards for another bout, she hadn't become 'perfect' at wielding her 'gift'.
Thus, she was in a bid to find a 'style' of combat that would best suit her. She did not see this as her limit.
[Efficiency with each movement, not a bad style. Instead of drawing from physical power or absolute control of the battle situation, she much rather draws from spatial awareness mixed with the attributes of 'silent but deadly'. Instead of overpowering opponents with strength, she does so with battle hardiness. Along with her control over her speed and body, she is the definition of 'efficiency'. Ais's battle style is truly worthy of praise.] Mar commented.
[Overwhelming opponents with tricks mixed with tactical awareness, a praiseworthy style. Switching tactics amidst battle at a split second and jumping around strategically killing those he can while leaving those he can't be bothered to waste time with--although he seems like he isn't working as a team, he nevertheless recognizes Ais's efficiency and leaves those behind to be struck down by her. An oddball who seems as if a 'show stealer' but is simply his style, the boy is not bad either.] Maria imagined Mar shaking her head.
[And Maria, your battle style is in essence 'control over the battlefield'. You're more rather a leader and analysis expert on situations than an actual upfront fighter if it were to be put as such. However, unlike most, your style is interchangeable thanks to your particular skill set---you can choose to be a fighter or a leader at a whim.] She finished.
[However...]
[You are ambidextrous no?] She couldn't help but ask.
'Yes.'
[Why not wield two blades then? Using a Mana blade as a supplement.]
'Hmm...no...I find it easier to focus both my energy, strength, and attention onto a single blade only. I would rather leave dual wielding to Rain and this new boy.'
[Mhmm, a respectable choice.]
"Mhmm," Maria nodded and swung her blade.
.
.
.
Sweat riddled her body as fatigue washed over her.
Maria's breathing rushed as her quivering right hand continued to tightly grip her blade, her body moving with less zeal than previously...
'Exactly how much are there...' This thought had raced through her mind several times now, and, as she thought, the minds of Ais and Alex just the same.
Her steps slowed considerably and she felt she could fall down at any moment and be sliced apart by the crystal like ice golems—becoming more than mixed meat.
Clank
Marriage raised her blade above her head, harrowingly blocking an attack that caused her body to both quake and bend.
Her left eye traced to see the area as multiple beasts echoed in for the killing chance.
Shrill
Golden blades glimmered into her surroundings and pierced into her outstretched area. Spinning.
"Ugh," Maria's mind quaked a bit.
Controlling the blades wasn't 'hard' in any way, however the concentration needed for precise movements was strenuous to her mentality-especially so when it was ten such items. She couldn't help but grit her teeth.
Suddenly, the Golem before her kicked forwards.
"Wha-."
Maria instinctively jumped backwards.
A faltering of her step caused her to shake momentarily, in a fall.
'Oh shi-'
The beast lunged into action.
A low tinge of pain echoed from her cheek as a red line was indistinguishable traced upon it.
Maria barely managed a quick turn of her body or else she might have lost a head.
She sprung back up, grasping her blade with both hands, she sliced rightways upward...
'Goddammit!!' Her will quaked.
...the blade of her weapon grew in length within that splitting moment her swinging stance...
[Hmm,]
Schill
There was no surprise...
Using all her might, her blade ripped through the beast as if butter and tore it into two.
However, Maria held no time for happiness.
'Mar...'
[It seems they grow with battle, before they might have been D to C ranked, but, currently, I believe they've reached to the C+ rank at the very least.] The voice was calm, answering her question before she even asked it fully.
"Goddammit!!" Maria swung her blade in a wide rightway arc.
The length of the weapon grew with her thoughts as it crashed into the beings that now charged towards her in zeal.
They tumbled aback.
The amount of force she had pulled not in the least bit enough to fully crush them and could only force them back.
Maria's legs moved as she charged through that small distance and pierced her weapon forwards.
The length increased, piercing right through the core of one beast.
'I'm getting the hang of this...'
She had already drew it out as she made a full circular turn and swung her blade...
The head of a beast lopped off and a golden blade appeared to finish the job and pin it right under its tip, breaking it too.
Clang
Maria gritted her teeth, her arms quaking.
A glistering golden blade at her left hand and her radiant sword at her right, she forcefully took the brutish attacks.
[They became stronger once more...slightly at the B- rank...if this continues, you will all be overwhelmed individually and destroyed.]
'Mhmn,' Her figure ducked.
She spun with that simple motion, directly slicing through the legs of her assailants, bringing them tumbling down.
'We should group back together.' She tasted the snow beneath her feet.
Two golden blades fell down on the defenseless creatures, piercing through their skull and effectively killing them before dissipating.
The mana blade at her left disappeared.
She quickly shifted to hold her blade with both hands once more.
Her hand raised above her head...
She swung down.
...the length of the blade increased within that swing as it thinned.
Schill
A crystalized figure was directly sliced into two as its body broke off.
Maria's pinkish eyes gleamed.
Ten blades spawned immediately and surrounded her in full before melding into her radiant blade.
It grew larger with that control and she tossed it forwards.
She grinned, watching it float and spin for a moment.
She couldn't control it for long at her current stage, her mind already in a bid to break as sweat flowed.
But...
"Rip them."
It was currently enough to clear a path...
The radiant blade quaked lightly, and flew high into the sky.
Bang
It dropped down from the sky in a single blitz, pounding the earth and taking with it two golems pierced under its might.
It forced itself out from being logued and flew once more.
Bang
A blade fell, crushing the assailants at her left under its might, and although not fully killing them, it was enough to keep them at bay.
Ais's blade spun before her, deflecting the shine of an azure sword.
Her figure traced forwards as she slashed once.
Crack
Directly slicing through the demonic core of the beast.
Yet,
Clang
Her next attack onto another was accurately blocked as she met with facelessness.
'They grew once more within that short span?' Ais thought in disbelief, although, no expression evident upon her face.
She clearly now felt the full force of an A ranker countering against her weapon.
A golden weapon suddenly pierced the head of her foe.
"At this rate...they will become stronger than us all...let's stick together." Maria appeared, the large Radiant Blade hovering behind her as her hand no clutched only one sword.
'Yup, one sword is better for me after all.' She decided, her mind fatigued and growing a bit wary.
[With your current state, controlling it is a bit much within the next thirty seconds or so at the very least.] Mar's voice rang.
'Mhmm, I will stick to simply short bursts for now.' She nodded.
[Wise choice.]
Bang
Snow flew into the air as Alex's figure slammed against the floor, appearing before the two as if he were a meteorite.
"Yes, we should stick together from now on." His body rose as ashes of the white snow fell in disarray.
Two blades glimmered in his hand; his right holding
However...at that moment...
Pomme's eyes opened.
"This is boring..." She lightly yawned.
"!?!" Alex.
Maria looked onto the girl and found that she could no longer call upon her Sacred Text.
'She definitely isn't fully human...'
Two golden lights instantly shot out.
"No more." Pomme simply spoke.
The two lights danced within the air momentarily.
Then...
BANG!
Smashed into each other!!
The entire world seemed to tremble as the sky ripped apart revealing something akin to a super compressed orb of light floating amidst the air. Rotating and spinning faster and faster, sucking the infiniteness of the world's mana into it. The whole area felt suffocating within that span, and each being within felt their soul shaking in disbelief as if in a bid to escape that suction force.
Low bangs continuously rang as if a war was waged within that orb, a faintness of white light blasting sporadically from its core, each shredding the air with its might and some that changed upon the crystallized beings simply crumbled them to smithereens.
The ball spun faster, spinning so fast at this moment that it was impossible to even detect its spin.
Maria looked onto it.
BOOM!!!
Instantly, the entire realm was bathed in an outwardly exploding light as if a devastating disaster of an attack had birthed into existence...
"Ugh." Maria forcefully shielded her eyes as her body hurled, a giant vastness of wind in a bid to push her down and away.
Then,
That same light instantly receded as if time was being rewound.
Gulp
When Maria opened her eyes, she couldn't help but gulp.
"...my god..."
The entire army they had held so much troubles with,
Disappeared in the blink of an eye!
Absolutely nothing remained but the snow-covered raven.
The world seemed to have fully regained light as the shadowed domain fractured and collapsed as if shattering glass. Even with its might, it couldn't hold that rippling explosion of pure holy white mana, something only Pomme could bring out.
Yet, they had no time to enjoy this view.
A massive roar shook their hearts as the earth quaked beneath them, rumbling in a need to burst and forcing them to focus on standing upon the layers of snow.
"I don't like the sound of that sh*t!!!" Alex's voice boomed, his heart beating.
It was quite easy to tell a part of the domain had broken down now, most likely the part that worked towards 'restriction'.
However...
The snow-covered lands still remained.
And something, something massive, was currently headed their way one way or the other.
They readied themselves.
"Fu*k!! Why are you going back to sleep!?!" Alex was speechless as he watched Pomme yawn lightly and roll back onto her azure pillow.
A light smile upon her lips as she closed her eyes, "Father always taught me to rest after a hard work."
And with that, she was sound asleep once more.
"..." Alex was speechless to this girl.
And Maria and Ais were both speechless for a differing reason as they glanced forwards.
The ground began to splinter and break off as it continually rumbled and quaked as if it would explode, eventually revealing...
Bang
A visage forcefully shot up, carry snow and earth with it.
"Are those fingers?" Maria pondered.
As she looked at those 'big' fingers of crystal like ice, she was certain they were indeed fingers.
"..." Maria
"..." Ais
"..." Alex
They all watched as a being forcefully rooted its hands out to grasp the edge of the opening it had burst open, slowly pulling itself out as it began to crawl.
The ground rumbled as it began to finally take its first step out of the hole it had tore through the ground.
Eventually.
Bang
A pillar of snow shot upwards as both legs finally landed.
The trio was forced to look up.
First was its towering legs, which, by themselves already looked at the height of several meters combined and spanned the width of multiple tree trunks—several feet. Next was its massive arms which seemed likely to be able to asunder an entire area with a swing. Its body was bulky and its cheats heavy with its upper torso. Then there was its head, this time, not entirely faceless. Although missing an eye, it held a mouth that...well....was more like a gaping hole amidst its figure. Then there was the skull area just above that mouth...
And inside that very skull was the visage of an azure core, and inside that core was the image of a man wearing what appeared to be noble like dark blue clothing—simply floating there...asleep...a crystal like icy fog like blue sword impaled through his chest.
"..." Maria
"..." Ais
"..." Alex
Its lips opened, "Who dares to disturb my master's slumber!?!"
Its voice quaked with power, the air struggling to hold its force and cracking as if a harsh wind.
"Oh." Ais
"My." Maria
"Fu*king sh*tty arse god!!!" Alex cursed to the heavens.
A collective gulp rang...
It was massive, towering more than ten Ais's combined and it definitely didn't look like one of Santa's snowmen coming here to deliver them some presents.
"Did we fu*king summon an event boss!?! Was this an event only area!?!" Alex was busy cursing all nine layers of both hell and heaven.
'There better be a fire temple behind that thing...' Maria thought.